Swimming device



C. S. ALTOONIAN SWIMMING DEVI CE Filed July 29, 1 24 2 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR 5192,? Dom/4A;

ATTORNEYS C. S. ALTOONIAN SWIMMING DEVICE Filed July 29. 1924 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR C .3 17b woo/war;

WITNESSES A I 5 4 ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 23, 1924.

UNITED CHARLES S. ALTOONIAN, 01? PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

SWIMMING DEVICE.

Application filed July 29, 1924.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES S. AL'rooN- IAN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and resi dent of Providence, in the county of Providence andState of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Swimming Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in swimming devices, and itconsists in the combination, constructions and arrangements hereindescribed and claimed.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple, reliable andeffective device for supporting the body of a user on the surface of thewater either for the purpose of recreation or in life saving operations.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of thecharacter described which affords facilities for propelling the body ofa user on the surface of the water in a desired direction.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription, considered in conjunction with the accompany ing drawings,in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a swimming device embodying theinvention,

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the structure exhibited in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a plan view of a modified form of swimming device embodyingthe same invention,

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the modification.

A swimming device embodying the invention as illustrated in Figures 1and 2 comprises a float 1 which may be an elongated hollow pneumaticbody having a substantially fiat upper face as indicated at 2. The undersurface of the body 1 preferably is convexly curved transversely thereofand the body 1 also may be convexly curved at the normally rear endthereof as indicated at 3, the body preferably tapering both in widthfrom its middle toward its ends and in and vertical dimensions orthickness from said one end to'its other end to terminate at its otheror normally forward end in a relatively sharp point, as indicated at 4.The body 1 may be collapsible and normally is inflated by means of airwhich has been forced thereinto through a valve stem 5 which isupstanding from the upper side of the body, the valve stem beingprovided with an inwardly opening check valve,

Serial No. 728,949.

not shown, which may be of any suitable known type of construction.

A series of spaced apart brackets 6, 7 and 8 respectively upstand fromthe body 1 along the longitudinal median line there of, the foremostbracket 8 being positioned adjacent to the forward end of the body andthe rear bracket 6 being located at a considerable distance from therearward end of the body. The brackets 6, 7 and 8 have the upper endportions thereof fashioned to provide horizontally aligned bearings asindicated at 6, and 8 respectively for a shaft 9. The shaft 9 extends atits forward end through the bearings 8 slightly beyond the forward endof the float and at its rearward end a slight distance rearwardly of thebearing 6 but considerably short of the rear end of the body 1. A screwpropeller 10 is secured on the forward end of the shaft 7 and a beveledgear 11 is secured on the rearward end of the shaft 9. The bearings 6 7and 8 may have apertures in the upper portions thereof as indicated at12 through which oil may be fed to the relatively moving surfaces of thebearings and the shaft 9.

A bracket 13 which is secured upon the upper side of the body 1rearwardly of the beveled gear 11 has an arm which is located in thevertical plane of the longitudinal median line of the body 1 and whichcurves upwardly and forwardly from the portion of the bracket 13 whichis attached to the body 1 toward the beveled gear 11 as indicated at 14.A stub shaft 15 extends laterally of one side of the arm 14C and carriesa beveled gear 16 which is in mesh with the beveled gear 11.

A pair of spaced apart stub shafts 17 and 18 respectively extendlaterally of the opposite sides of the arm 14. The stub shaft 18 carriesa rotable beveled gear 19 which is in mesh with the beveled gear 11 andthe stub shaft 17 carries a beveled gear 20 which is in mesh with thebeveled gear 19. The beveled gear 16 is considerably larger in diameterthan either of the beveled gears 20 or 19f A handle 21 is secured to thebeveled gear 16 in eccentric relation thereto and extends laterally ofthe outer face of the beveled gear. An eccentric handle 22 extendslaterally of the outer face of the beveled gear 20. Each of the handles21 and 22 is adapted to be grasped and manipulated to effect rotation ofthe beveled gear to which it is attached and it is manibut beingconsiderably larger and especially fest that rotation of either thebeveled gear 16 or the beveled gear 20 will cause rotation of thebeveled gear 11 and consequently of the screw propeller 10.

The body 1 is providedadjacent to its forward end with a pair oflaterally extending fixed foot pieces or rests The body 1 is providedadjacent to its rearward end with attaching elements which may be clipssecured to the body there preferably being attaching elements incorresponding positions at opposite sides of the longitudinal medianline of the body.

The brackets 13 and 6 may carry shields for the bevel gears as indicatedat 25. 26 and. 27 respectively.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, theoperation thereof may be readily understood. The user ofthe device mayplace a strap (not shown)- about theupper portion of his body and thenattach the ends of said strap to corresponding fastening elements 24 atopposite sides of the longitudinal median line of the body so that thebody 1 will be disposed in front of the body of the user. The body ofthe user then will be supported on the surface of the water when thefeet of the user are placed against the foot rest 23. the float 1 beingdisposed between the legs of the user and the user occupying a recliningposition in the water. The handles 21 and 22 are. within convenientreach of the user audit will be understood that the body of the userwill be propelled through the water when either one'of the handles 21.and 22 has been turned to impart motion. to the shaft 9 and'the screwpropeller 10. The speed of rotation of the shaft 9 will vary accordingto whether or not the handle 22 or. the handle 21 has been manipulatedto impart motion to the shaft. The speed of propulsion of the devicethus can be varied within a considerable range.

It will be understood that any suitable known motive power may beemployed to impart motion to the shaft 9.

The body of the modification which is illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 isindicated a't'30 and constitutes a float in the same manner as the body1, preferably of the sameshape'and construction as the body 1 being ofgreater length than the body 1. The body 30 carries a horizontal shaft31 which is journaled in horizontally aligned bearings at the upper endsof the upstanding arms of brackets 32, 33 and 84 respectively, the shaft31 being disposed directly above the longitudinal median line ofthebody. The shaft 31 extends at its forward end beyond' the forward end ofthe body and terminates at its rearward end at a considfer-able distancefrom the rearward end of body, screw propeller'35'is secured on theforward end of the shaft 31 and a bevel gear 86 is secured on therearward end of the shaft 31. The gear 36 is in mesh with a gear 37which is supported on a stub shaft 38. The latter extends laterally ofan upstanding arm of a bracket 39 which is secured upon the upper sideof the body 30.

The body 30 is provided adjacent to its forward end with a pair ofoppositely ex tending. foot rests 40 and is provided adjacent to itsrearward end with pairs of attaching elements 41, the attaching elements41 being similar to the attaching elements The body 30 also may be apneumatic collapsible structure or shell having an in let provided witha valve stem or nipple 42. the nipple 42 of course being provided withan inwardly opening check valve, not shown. of any suitable type ofconstruction.

The body 30 also may be provided atthe rearward end of its longitudinalmedian line with a rudder 43 which may be of any suitable known type ofconstruction. body 30 maybe provided with outriggers. each of which mayconsist of a plank or like elongated bouyant 'elementhaving at itsopposite ends a pair of laterally extending arms 45 and 4.6respectively, each of the arms 45 and 46 being engageable with lateralsockets 4'? which are carried by the body 30'. The outriggers thus maybe detached from the body 30 when desired.

The s The operation of the modified form of the P suitable strap, notshown, which may be passed about his body and then secured to certain ofthe attachingelements 41. The feet of the user of the device restagainst the foot pieces 40. A handle 48 may be secured to the ear 37 ineccentric relationthereto and is thus in positionto be graspedandmanipulated by the user of the device. It is manifest that rotation ofthe gear 37,will.

cause rotation of the shaft 31 and of the screw propeller 35. sion ofthe device through the water may be effected by the user of the deviceconvenient ly and with but slight muscular exertion.

The Outriggers prevent overturning of the body 30 in relatively heavyseas.

Obviously, my invention is susceptible of embodiment in forms other'thanthose which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and I thereforeconsider as my own all such modifications and adaptations thereof asfairly fall within the scope of'the appended claims.

I claim i 1. A device of the character described comprising an elongatedfloat, a'rotatableshaft supported upon the float, said shaftexte'ndllOing at one end beyond the forward end of the float, a propeller carriedby said shaft at its forward end, attaching elements on said float towhich the body of a user may be attached, means operable by the user forrotating said shaft, and a pair of oppositely extending foot piecescarried by said float adjacent to its forward end.

2. A device of the character described comprising an elongated pneumaticbody adapted to sustain the body of a user upon the surface of water, arotatable shaft supported on said body above the longitudinal medianline of the latter, said shaft extend ing beyond the forward end of thebody and terminating at its rearward end short of the rearward end ofthe body, a propeller secured on the forward end of the shaft, manuallyoperable motion transmission means associated with the rearward end ofsaid shaft and whereby a torque may be imparted to said shaft, and apair of oppositely extending foot pieces carried by said body adjacentto its forward end.

8. A device of the character described comprising an elongated float,attaching elements carried by said float adjacent to its rearward end, apair of oppositely extending foot pieces carried by said body adjacentto its forward end, a propeller shaft supported upon said float andextending beyond the forward end of the float, a propeller secured onthe forward end of said shaft, manually operable means for imparting atorque to said shaft, and Outriggers carried by said float.

4. A device of the character described comprising an elongated float,attaching elements carried by said float adjacent to its rearward end, apair of oppositely extending foot pieces carried by said body adjacentto its forward end, a propeller shaft supported upon said float andextending beyond the forward end of the float, a propeller secured onthe forward end of said shaft, manually operable means for imparting atorque to said shaft, and a pair of out riggers detachably secured tosaid float and respectively extending laterally of opposite sides of thefloat.

5. A device of the character described comprising an elongated float,attaching ele ments carried by said float adjacent to its rearward end,a pair of oppositely extending foot pieces carried by said body adjacentto its forward end, a propeller shaft supported upon said float andextending beyond the forward end of the float, a propeller sccured onthe forward end of said shaft, manually operable means for imparting atorque to said shaft, outriggers carried by said float, a pair ofOutriggers detachably secured to said float and respectively extendinglaterally of opposite sides of the float, and a rudder at the rearwardend of said float. 4

CHARLES S. ALTOONIAN.

